The loss of the inmate program has left Kinston Public Services looking to hire employees for its understaffed crew.

KPS was granted three full-time staff members for its ditch maintenance crew at this week’s city council meeting. The cost of the employees will be $85,000 to finish the fiscal year — which ends June 30, 2014 — and $105,000 annually.

The inmate program was removed July 1 after the Duplin Correctional Facility closed down due to the state budget.

“We’re still dealing with the loss of our inmate program, with (Kinston/Lenoir County) Parks and Recreation taking the biggest hit,” Councilwoman Kelly Jarman said. “Still, we need these three people for ditch maintenance.”

To fund the employees until January, a fund balance of $52,500 from the stormwater fund will be transferred.

Mayor B.J. Murphy said the decision was good, considering the loss of the inmate program.

“The discussion on the impact of the state budget and loss of inmate labor had on the stormwater fund was important,” Murphy said. “The city manager and staff have tried to be as prudent and fiscally responsible as possible.”

In other council business, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Tyson and Councilman Sammy Aiken were appointed to the Human Relations Steering Committee by Lenoir 2020. The committee is made up of members selected by the City of Kinston, Lenoir County, the Kinston-Lenoir Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for Children.

The purpose of the commission is to ensure each citizen in every part of the community believes he or she can have a stake in the future and economic development of Lenoir County.

“I’ve always been concerned about the items on the agenda: education, housing & amenities, health care, public safety and human relations,” Tyson said. “I wanted to be on the commission to be more involved and work with entities in the county, so we can improve on areas we’re deficient in and amplify where we’re good in.”

The council also recognized the Kinston Department of Public Safety for their work on the GREAT, a program that is used as a way to keep youth away from gang life.

The next city council meeting will be on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. A work session is set for 5:30 p.m., highlighted with a public hearing for the Ibegbu Property Rezoning.

Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.